Coumarinic fluorescent chemosensors for the detection of transition metal ions.

Fluoroionophores consisting of coumarin-153 linked to mono- and diaza-crown ethers are able to complex transition metal cations (Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+)) and Pb(2+), with concomitant large changes in photophysical properties. The stability constants in acetonitrile are higher than 3×10(6) M (-1) except for Ni(2+).